NORM waste treatment facility opens in Scotland

A pioneering waste treatment facility which cleans and recycles equipment from North Sea oil and gas operations affected by naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) has opened in Scotland.

NORM facility opening courtesy of Jim Ritchie Photography

The Nuvia SITA NORM site opened last week (October 4) near Peterhead at the Stoneyhill Resource Recovery Park and has gained approval for its own on site disposal route.

It is anticipated that the site will help the region's oil and gas operators comply with new Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) guidelines, which came into force on Saturday (October 8), on the disposal of NORM generated during fossil fuel recovery operations.

In addition, Nuvia said that the site is expected to recycle at least 95% of all metal items that pass through the plant for either reuse or for entry into the wider recycling market.

The opening was attended by representatives of Aberdeen's oil and gas companies and included a presentation on the facility's processes and guided tour.

Nuvia business manager, Ewan Hill, said: "We received a timely boost last week when we heard from SEPA that our RSA 93 authorisation had been approved. This means that we are now in a position to make an immediate start on active operations.

"This new treatment facility is a significant and critical addition to the infrastructure of the region's oil and gas industry supply chain. It will provide safe and secure, long-term treatment and disposal of NORM in an environmentally responsible manner."